Sheet manufacturing apparatus, recording sheet, and sheet manufacturing method

ABSTRACT

A sheet manufacturing apparatus includes a web forming section that accumulates a feedstock containing fibers in a gas to form a second web, an arranging section that arranges a magnetic body on the second web while the second web is transported, and a processing section that processes the second web on which the magnetic body is arranged into a sheet.

The present application is based on, and claims priority from JPApplication Serial Number 2018-235980, filed Dec. 18, 2018, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a sheet manufacturing apparatus, arecording sheet, and a sheet manufacturing method.

2. Related Art

In the related art, using paper referred to as security paper isproposed as a method of enhancing security. This type of paper isconfigured by a magnetic wire being embedded in the paper (for example,refer to JP-A-2005-146477). When an alternating magnetic field of apredetermined frequency is applied to this type of paper, the magneticwire embedded in the paper emits a steep pulse signal during themagnetization reversal. By detecting the pulse signal using a detectiondevice, it is possible to detect the paper containing the magnetic wire.

The manufacturing method of security paper of the related art issupplying an aqueous suspension containing a magnetic wire onto a papermanufacturing feedstock and subsequently draining the water content toform a sheet. In this method, there is a problem in that a large amountof water is necessary for the manufacturing of the security paper.

SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided asheet manufacturing apparatus including a web forming section thataccumulates a feedstock containing fibers in a gas to form a web, anarranging section that arranges at least one magnetic body on the webwhile the web is transported, and a processing section that processesthe web on which the at least one magnetic body is arranged into asheet.

In the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the arranging section may arrangethe at least one magnetic body at a fixed position with respect to atransport path of the web.

In the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the at least one magnetic body mayhave a longitudinal shape, the at least one magnetic body may include aplurality of magnetic bodies, and the arranging section may arrange theplurality of magnetic bodies such that directions of the magnetic bodiesare three or more different directions.

In the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the arranging section may arrangethe plurality of magnetic bodies including three magnetic bodiesarranged such that directions of the three magnetic bodies are differentfrom each other by 60°±50°.

In the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the arranging section may arrange,as the at least one magnetic body, a wire rod of a predetermined lengthcontaining a magnetic body.

In the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the arranging section may includea guide configured to pivot in a direction in which an angle of theguide changes relative to a transport direction of the web, and thearranging section may arrange the magnetic wire rod along the guide.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus may further include a cutting sectionthat cuts the sheet processed by the processing section to have apredetermined length, in which the cutting section may cut the sheet ata position at which a contained proportion of the at least one magneticbody is less than 1.0 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts byweight of the sheet after the cutting.

In the sheet manufacturing apparatus, the feedstock containing fibersmay contain a resin which is melted by heating to bond the fibers, andthe processing section may heat the web on which the at least onemagnetic body is arranged to process the web into the sheet.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus may further include a coating processsection that adheres a coating material to the at least one magneticbody arranged on the web or the sheet.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda recording sheet including a sheet formed of a feedstock containingfibers and magnetic wire rods containing magnetic bodies arranged on thesheet, in which less than 1.0 parts by weight of the magnetic wire rodsare contained with respect to 100 parts by weight of the sheet, and theplurality of magnetic wire rods is arranged such that the magnetic wirerods face three or more directions different from each other.

In the recording sheet, the plurality of magnetic wire rods may bearranged such that directions of the magnetic wire rods are differentfrom each other by 60°±5°.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a sheet manufacturing method including a web forming step ofaccumulating a feedstock containing fibers in a gas to form a web, anarranging step of transporting the web and arranging a magnetic body onthe web that is transported, and a processing step of processing the webon which the magnetic body is arranged into a sheet.

The sheet manufacturing method may further include a cutting step ofcutting the sheet processed in the processing step to have apredetermined length, in which the cutting step may cut the sheet at aposition at which a contained proportion of the magnetic body is lessthan 1.0 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of thesheet after the cutting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a configuration of a sheet manufacturingapparatus of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a configuration and operation of anarranging section.

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a configuration and operation of thearranging section.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a sheet manufactured by thesheet manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an example of a sheet manufactured by thesheet manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of a sheet manufactured by thesheet manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an example of a sheet manufactured by thesheet manufacturing apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating manufacturing steps of the sheet of thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of an arrangingsection of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating a configuration of a sheet manufacturingapparatus of a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating an example of a sheet manufactured by asheet manufacturing apparatus of the third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating manufacturing steps of the sheet ofthe third embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of favorableembodiments of the present disclosure using the drawings. Theembodiments described hereinafter are not to be construed as limitingthe content of the present disclosure described in the claims. All ofthe configurations which are described hereinafter are not necessarilyessential constituent elements of the present disclosure.

1. First Embodiment 1-1. Overall Configuration of Sheet ManufacturingApparatus

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the configuration of a sheet manufacturingapparatus 100 of the first embodiment.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is an apparatus which fibrizes afeedstock MA containing fibers to manufacture a sheet S. The feedstockMA may be any feedstock containing fibers. For example, it is possibleto use wood-based pulp material, kraft pulp, old paper, synthetic pulp,or the like. When using old paper as the feedstock MA, it is possible toregard the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 as a recycling apparatuswhich executes a recycling process of recycling the old paper into thenew sheet S. The sheet S is an example of a recording sheet. The sameapplies to sheets S1 to S5 (described later).

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is capable of producing aplurality of kinds of sheets S and, for example, is capable of adjustingthe bonding strength and the whiteness of the sheet S, and of addingfunctions such as color, scent, and flame-proofing according to purposeby mixing additives into the feedstock MA. The sheet manufacturingapparatus 100 is capable of adjusting the density, thickness, size, andshape of the sheet S. Representative examples of the sheet S includeproducts such as paper plates in addition to sheet-like products such asprinting paper of standard sizes such as A4 and A3, cleaning sheets suchas floor cleaning sheets, sheets for oil dirtying, and toilet cleaningsheets.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is provided with a supply section10, a crushing section 12, a defibrating section 20, a sorting section40, a first web forming section 45, a rotating body 49, a mixing section50, a dispersing section 60, a second web forming section 70, a webtransport section 79, a processing section 80, and a cutting section 90.The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is provided with an arrangingsection 30.

These sections execute a manufacturing step of manufacturing the sheet Sfrom the feedstock MA in the order the sections are listed. The sheetmanufacturing apparatus 100 forms a pressurized sheet SS1 and a heatedsheet SS2 (described later) as intermediate products in themanufacturing step of the sheet S.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 includes a defibrating processsection 101 and a web forming section 102. The defibrating processsection 101 manufactures a mixture MX and the web forming section 102manufactures a second web W2 from the mixture MX. In other words, thedefibrating process section 101 manufactures the mixture MX which is amaterial for manufacturing the second web W2.

The defibrating process section 101 may be configured to include thesupply section 10, the defibrating section 20, the sorting section 40,the first web forming section 45, the rotating body 49, and the mixingsection 50. The defibrating process section 101 includes the mixingsection 50 when the mixing section 50 is directly supplied with amaterial MC from outside the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100.

The web forming section 102 includes the dispersing section 60 and thesecond web forming section 70. The web forming section 102 may includethe web transport section 79 and the web forming section 102 may includethe arranging section 30 (described later).

The supply section 10 is an automatic feeding device which stores thefeedstock MA and continually feeds the feedstock MA into the crushingsection 12. The feedstock MA may be any feedstock containing fibers, forexample, old paper, waste paper, or pulp sheets.

The crushing section 12 is provided with a crushing blade 14 which cutsthe feedstock MA supplied by the supply section 10, the crushing section12 using the crushing blade 14 to cut the feedstock MA in the air intorectangular shreds having a size of several centimeters square. Theshape and size of the shreds are arbitrary. It is possible to use ashredder, for example, for the crushing section 12. The feedstock MA cutby the crushing section 12 is gathered in a hopper 9 and is transportedto the defibrating section 20 via a tube 2.

The defibrating section 20 defibrates the crushed pieces that are cut bythe crushing section 12. Defibration is processing in which thefeedstock MA in a state in which a plurality of fibers is bondedtogether is untangled into single or a small number of fibers. It ispossible to refer to the feedstock MA as a defibration target object. Itis possible to anticipate an effect of causing matter such as resinparticles, ink, toner, and a bleeding inhibitor adhered to the feedstockMA to separate from the fibers due to the defibrating section 20defibrating the feedstock MA. An object which passes the defibratingsection 20 is referred to as a defibrated object. In addition to thedefibrated object which is untangled, the defibrated object may includeresin particles which separate from the fibers when untangling thefibers, colorants such as ink and toner, and additives such as ableeding inhibitor and paper strengthener. The resin particles containedin the defibrated object are a resin in which the fibers in a pluralityof fibers are caused to bond to each other during the manufacturing ofthe feedstock MA. The fibers contained in the defibrated object may bepresent in an independent state of not being tangled with other fibers.Alternatively, the fibers may be tangled with another untangleddefibrated object to form a lump and be present in a state of formingso-called clumps.

The defibrating section 20 is a device that defibrates the crushedpieces cut by the crushing section 12 using a dry system. It is possibleto configure the defibrating section 20 using a defibrator such as animpeller mill, for example. The defibrating section 20 of the presentembodiment is a mill provided with a cylindrical stator 22 and a rotor24 which rotates in the inside of the stator 22, and formed withdefibrating blades on the inner circumferential surface of the stator 22the outer circumferential surface of the rotor 24. The crushed piecesare pinched between the stator 22 and the rotor 24 to be defibrated bythe rotation of the rotor 24. A defibrated object MB defibrated by thedefibrating section 20 is fed from the discharge port of the defibratingsection 20 to the tube 3. The dry system indicates that the processessuch as the defibrating are performed not in a liquid but in a gas suchas in the air.

The crushed pieces are transported from the crushing section 12 to thedefibrating section 20 by an air current. The defibrated object MB issent from the defibrating section 20 to the sorting section 40 via thetube 3 by an air current. These air currents may be generated by thedefibrating section 20, and a blower (not illustrated) may be providedto generate the air currents.

The sorting section 40 sorts the components contained in the defibratedobject MB according to the size of the fibers. The size of the fibersmainly indicates the length of the fibers.

The sorting section 40 of the present embodiment includes a drum section41 and a housing section 43 which houses the drum section 41. The drumsection 41 is a so-called sieve such as a mesh having openings, afilter, or a screen, for example. Specifically, the drum section 41 hasa cylindrical shape and is rotationally driven by a motor, and at leasta portion of the circumferential surface is a mesh. The drum section 41may be configured by a metal mesh, expanded metal in which a metal platehaving cuts therein is stretched out, perforated metal, or the like.

The defibrated object MB which is introduced into the inside of the drumsection 41 from an inlet 42, through the rotation of the drum section41, is divided into a passed object which passes through the openings inthe drum section 41 and the residue which does not pass through theopenings. The passed object which passes through the openings containsfibers, particles, and the like smaller than the openings and is a firstsorted object. The residue contains fibers, non-defibrated pieces,clumps, and the like larger than the openings and is referred to as asecond sorted object. The first sorted object descends the inside of thehousing section 43 toward the first web forming section 45. The secondsorted object is transported to the defibrating section 20 via a tube 8from a discharge port 44 communicating with the inside of the drumsection 41.

Instead of the sorting section 40, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100may be provided with a classifier which separates the first sortedobject and the second sorted object. The classifier makes use of an aircurrent and includes a filter, a cyclone classifier, an elbow-jetclassifier.

The first web forming section 45 includes a mesh belt 46 positionedunder the drum section 41 and forms a first web W1 by shaping the firstsorted object separated by the sorting section 40 into a web-like form.

The first web forming section 45 includes the mesh belt 46, stretchrollers 47, and a suction section 48. The mesh belt 46 is an endlessmetal belt and bridges across the plurality of stretch rollers 47. Oneor more of the stretch rollers 47 is driven to rotate by a motor or thelike (not illustrated) and causes the mesh belt 46 to move. The meshbelt 46 goes around a track configured by the stretch rollers 47. Aportion of the track of the mesh belt 46 is planar under the drumsection 41 and configures a planar surface of the mesh belt 46.

Multiple openings are formed in the mesh belt 46 and, of the firstsorted object which descends from the drum section 41, a component thatis larger than the openings in the mesh belt 46 accumulates on the meshbelt 46. The component of the first sorted object that is smaller thanthe openings in the mesh belt 46 passes through the openings. Thecomponent which passes through the openings in the mesh belt 46 isreferred to as a third sorted object, and, for example, contains fibersshorter than the openings in the mesh belt 46, resin particles separatedfrom the fibers by the defibrating section 20, and particles includingink, toner, a bleeding inhibitor, and the like.

The suction section 48 is coupled to a blower (not illustrated) andsuctions the air from the bottom of the mesh belt 46 using a suctionforce of the blower. The air which is suctioned from the suction section48 is discharged together with the third sorted object which passesthrough the openings in the mesh belt 46.

Since the air current generate by the suction of the suction section 48attracts the first sorted object which descends from the drum section 41toward the mesh belt 46, there is an effect of promoting accumulation.

The component which accumulates on the mesh belt 46 becomes web-like andconfigures the first web W1. In other words, the first web formingsection 45 forms the first web W1 from the first sorted object sorted bythe sorting section 40.

The main component of the first web W1 is fibers larger than theopenings in the mesh belt 46, of the components contained in the firstsorted object, and the first web W1 is formed to be soft and light andto contain much air. The first web W1 is transported to the rotatingbody 49 in accordance with the movement of the mesh belt 46.

The rotating body 49 is provided with a plurality of plate-like bladesand is driven to rotate by a motor (not illustrated). The rotating body49 is disposed at an end portion of the track of the mesh belt 46 andcomes into contact with the mesh belt 46 at which the first web W1transported by the mesh belt 46 protrudes from the mesh belt 46. Thefirst web W1 is untangled by the rotating body 49 colliding with thefirst web W1, becomes small fiber lumps, passes through the tube 7, andis transported to the mixing section 50. The material obtained bycutting the first web W1 with the rotating body 49 is a material MC. Thematerial MC is obtained by removing the third sorted object from thefirst sorted object and the main component of the material MC is fibers.

In this manner, the sorting section 40 and the first web forming section45 have a function of separating the material MC mainly containingfibers from the defibrated object MB.

In the transport path of the mesh belt 46, a moisture adjusting section77 is provided between the first web forming section 45 and the rotatingbody 49. The moisture adjusting section 77 is a mist system humidifierwhich turns water into mist form and supplies the mist toward the meshbelt 46 and is provided with, for example, a tank storing water and anultrasonic vibrator which turns the water into mist form. The watercontent of the first web W1 is adjusted due to the moisture adjustingsection 77 supplying the mist, and adherence of fibers to the mesh belt46 caused by static electricity and the like are suppressed. Themoisture adjusting section 77 may be configured to be coupled to avaporizing humidifier which adjusts the moisture in the air and tosupply the air which is humidified by the vaporizing humidifier to themesh belt 46.

The mixing section 50 is provided with an additive supply section 52 anda mixing blower 56. The mixing section 50 may include a tube 54 whichtransports the material MC and the additive material AD to the mixingblower 56.

The additive supply section 52 is a device which supplies the additivematerial AD to the tube 54 and the additive material AD is added to thematerial MC by the additive supply section 52.

The additive supply section 52 is provided with an additive cartridge 52a which accumulates the additive material AD. The additive cartridge 52a is a tank storing the additive material AD and may be attachable anddetachable to and from the additive supply section 52. The additivesupply section 52 is provided with an additive dispensing section 52 bwhich dispenses the additive material AD from the additive cartridge 52a and an additive feeding section 52 c which discharges the additivematerial AD dispensed by the additive dispensing section 52 b to thetube 54. The additive dispensing section 52 b is provided with a feederwhich sends the additive material AD to the additive feeding section 52c. The feeder is capable of changing the feed-out amount according tothe feedstock. The additive feeding section 52 c is provided with ashutter capable of opening and closing and sends the additive materialAD to the tube 54 by opening the shutter.

The additive material AD may contain a bonding material for bonding aplurality of fibers together. The bonding material is a synthetic resinor a natural resin, for example. The resin contained in the additivematerial AD is melted when passing through the processing section 80 tobond the plurality of fibers together. The resin is a thermoplasticresin or a heat curing resin, for example, the resin is AS resin, ABSresin, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene,acrylic resin, polyester resin, polyethylene terephthalate,polyphenylene ether, polybutylene terephthalate, nylon, polyamide,polycarbonate, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide, polyether etherketone, or the like. These resins may be used on their own or in amixture, as appropriate.

The additive material AD may contain components other than the resinwhich bonds the fibers together. For example, depending on the kind ofthe sheet S to be manufactured, the additive material AD may contain acolorant for coloring the fibers, an agglomeration inhibitor forpreventing aggregation of the fibers and aggregation of the resin, aflame retardant for rendering the fibers and the like less susceptibleto burning, and the like. The additive material AD may be fiber form andmay be powder form.

The mixing blower 56 generates an air current in the tube 54 joining thetube 7 to the dispersing section 60 and mixes the material MC and theadditive material AD together. The mixing blower 56 is provided with,for example, a motor, blades driven to rotate by the motor, and a casestoring the blades. The mixing blower 56 may be provided with, inaddition to the blades generating the air current, a mixer which mixesthe material MC and the additive material AD together. Hereinafter, themixture mixed in the mixing section 50 will be referred to as a mixtureMX. The mixture MX is transported to the dispersing section 60 by theair current generated by the mixing blower 56 and is introduced to thedispersing section 60.

The dispersing section 60 untangles the fibers of the mixture MX andcauses the untangled fibers to descend onto the second web formingsection 70 while dispersing the fibers in the atmosphere. When theadditive material AD is a fiber shape, these fibers are also untangledby the dispersing section 60 and descend onto the second web formingsection 70.

The dispersing section 60 includes a drum section 61 and a housing 63housing the drum section 61. The drum section 61 is a cylindricalstructural body configured in the same manner as the drum section 41,for example. The drum section 61 is driven to rotate by a motor or thelike (not illustrated) and functions as a sieve. The drum section 61 hasan opening and causes the mixture MX untangled by the rotation of thedrum section 61 to descend from the opening. Accordingly, the mixture MXdescends from the drum section 61 in an inside space 62 formed in theinside of the housing 63.

The second web forming section 70 is disposed below the drum section 61.The second web forming section 70 includes a mesh belt 72, stretchrollers 74, and a suction mechanism 76.

The mesh belt 72 is configured by an endless metal belt similar to themesh belt 46 and bridges across a plurality of stretch rollers 74. Oneor more of the stretch rollers 74 is driven to rotate by a motor or thelike (not illustrated) and drives the mesh belt 72. The mesh belt 72moves in a transport direction indicated by symbol F1 while going arounda track configured by the stretch rollers 74. A portion of the track ofthe mesh belt 72 is planar on the bottom of the drum section 61 andconfigures a planar surface of the mesh belt 72.

Multiple openings are formed in the mesh belt 72 and, of the mixture MXwhich descends from the drum section 61, a component that is larger thanthe openings in the mesh belt 72 accumulates on the mesh belt 72. Thecomponent of the mixture MX that is smaller than the openings in themesh belt 72 passes through the openings.

The suction mechanism 76 uses the suction force of a blower (notillustrated) to suction the air from the opposite side of the mesh belt72 from the drum section 61. The component that passes through theopenings in the mesh belt 72 is sucked up by the suction mechanism 76.The air current generated by the suction of the suction mechanism 76attracts the mixture MX descending from the drum section 61 toward themesh belt 72 to promote the accumulation of the mixture MX. The aircurrent of the suction mechanism 76 forms a downflow in the path inwhich the mixture MX descends from the drum section 61 and it ispossible to anticipate an effect of preventing the tangling of thefibers while the fibers fall.

In the transport path of the mesh belt 72, a moisture adjusting section78 is provided downstream of the dispersing section 60. The moistureadjusting section 78 is a mist system humidifier which turns water intomist form and supplies the mist toward the mesh belt 72 and is providedwith, for example, a tank storing water and an ultrasonic vibrator whichturns the water into mist form. The water content of the second web W2is adjusted due to the moisture adjusting section 78 supplying the mistand adherence of fibers to the mesh belt 72 caused by static electricityand the like are suppressed. The moisture adjusting section 78 may beconfigured to be coupled to a vaporizing humidifier which adjusts themoisture in the air and to supply the air which is humidified by thevaporizing humidifier to the mesh belt 72.

The second web W2 is peeled from the mesh belt 72 and transported to theprocessing section 80 by the web transport section 79. The web transportsection 79 includes a mesh belt 79 a, a roller 79 b, and a suctionmechanism 79 c. The suction mechanism 79 c is provided with a blower(not illustrated) and generates an upward air current through the meshbelt 79 a using the suction force of the blower. It is possible toconfigure the mesh belt 79 a using an endless metal belt having openingssimilar to the mesh belt 46 and the mesh belt 72. The mesh belt 79 a ismoved by the rotation of the roller 79 b and moves on a turning track.In the web transport section 79, the second web W2 separates from themesh belt 72 and is adhered to the mesh belt 79 a due to the suctionforce of the suction mechanism 79 c. The second web W2 moves with themesh belt 79 a and is transported to the processing section 80.

The processing section 80 is provided with a pressurizing section 82 anda heating section 84. The pressurizing section 82 is provided with apair of pressurizing rollers 85, 85 and pressurizes the second web W2 ata predetermined nipping pressure to adjust the thickness of the secondweb W2 and increase the density of the second web W2. The pressurizedsheet SS1 is formed from the second web W2 due to the processing of thepressurizing section 82.

The heating section 84 is provided with a pair of heating rollers 86 andbonds the fibers originating from the material MC using the resincontained in the additive material AD by applying heat to thepressurized sheet SS1. Accordingly, the heated sheet SS2 is formed fromthe pressurized sheet SS1. The heated sheet SS2 is a sheet-likeintermediate product subjected to pressurization and heating by theprocessing section 80 in which the strength, elasticity, and density ofthe second web W2 are increased. The heated sheet SS2 is transported tothe cutting section 90.

The cutting section 90 is provided with a cutter 91. The cutter 91 isdriven by an actuator or the like (not illustrated) to perform a processof pinching and cutting the heated sheet SS2 and to manufacture thesheet S of a set size. The cutter 91 cuts the heated sheet SS2 in adirection intersecting a transport direction F, for example. The cuttingsection 90 may be provided with a second cutter which cuts the heatedsheet SS2 in a direction parallel to the transport direction F.

The sheet S cut by the cutting section 90 is discharged to a dischargeportion 96. The discharge portion 96 is provided with a tray or astacker which stores the sheet S. The user is capable of taking out andusing the sheet S stored in the discharge portion 96.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is not limited to theconfiguration in which the first web W1 is transported in processes ofthe rotating body 49 onward. For example, the first web W1 may be takenout from the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and stored. A mode may beadopted in which the first web W1 is sealed in a predetermined packageand transporting and transaction are possible. In this case, in thesheet manufacturing apparatus 100, a configuration may be adopted inwhich the first web W1 which is stored is supplied to the rotating body49 or the mixing section 50 and it is possible to manufacture the sheetS.

Hereinabove, the operations of the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 arecontrolled by a control device 110. The control device 110 controls atleast the defibrating section 20, the additive supply section 52, themixing blower 56, the dispersing section 60, the second web formingsection 70, the processing section 80, and the cutting section 90 toexecute the manufacturing method of the sheet S. The control device 110may control the operations of the supply section 10, the sorting section40, the first web forming section 45, and the rotating body 49.

1-2. Configuration of Arranging Section

The arranging section 30 is provided downstream of the second webforming section 70. The arranging section 30 is disposed between thedispersing section 60 and the moisture adjusting section 78 in thetransport path of the mesh belt 72, for example. The arranging section30 arranges magnetic bodies configured by a magnetic material on thesecond web W2. Although the shape and size of the magnetic bodies arearbitrary, a magnetic body having a longitudinal shape is an example ofa preferable magnetic body. A specific example of the magnetic bodies isa magnetic body wire in which the magnetic material is formed into wireshapes having a length in the order of several millimeters or more. Inthe present embodiment, a description is given of an example in whichmagnetic wires MW formed by shaping the magnetic material into wireshapes are arranged on the surface of the second web W2 using thearranging section 30. The magnetic wires MW are an example of themagnetic body wire.

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating the configuration of the arrangingsection 30. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of thearranging section 30.

In the present embodiment, the arranging section 30 includes wirearranging mechanisms 31 and 32. The wire arranging mechanism 31 and thewire arranging mechanism 32 are both disposed in positions correspondingto the transport path FW of the second web W2. In detail, the wirearranging mechanism 31 and the wire arranging mechanism 32 are bothdisposed above the second web W2 placed on the mesh belt 72. Supporttables 311 may be at positions separated from the second web W2 in planview, and the support tables 311 may be positioned such that theentirety of the wire arranging mechanisms 31 and 32 is at a positionoverlapping the second web W2 in plan view.

A roll MR is set in each of the wire arranging mechanisms 31 and 32.Each of the rolls MR is formed by winding the magnetic body wire into aroll shape.

The wire arranging mechanism 31 includes the support tables 311, cutters313, and guides 315. The wire arranging mechanism 32 is configured in asimilar manner.

The magnetic wires MW pulled out from the rolls MR are placed on thesupport tables 311. The cutters 313 cut the magnetic wires MW on thesupport tables 311. FIG. 3 indicates cutting positions at which thecutters 313 cut the rolls MR using the symbols CP.

Feed-out mechanisms which feed out the magnetic wires MW from the rollsMR may be provided on the support tables 311. Specifically, it ispossible to configure the feed-out mechanism to be provided with amotor, a gear or a link mechanism which rotates the roll MR using themotive force of the motor, and a guide which guides the magnetic wiresMW fed out through the rotation of the roll MR to the support table 311.Alternatively, it is possible to configure the feed-out mechanism to beprovided with a pair of feed-out rollers which pinch the magnetic wiresMW pulled out from the roll MR and a motor which rotates the feed-outrollers to pull the magnetic wires MW toward the support table 311.

The guides 315 guide the cut magnetic wires MW onto the second web W2.The guides 315 are joined to the support tables 311 and the distal endsof the guides 315 reach the top of the second web W2. For example, theguides 315 are chutes which allow the magnetic wires MW to slide to thesecond web W2. The guides 315 are disposed such that the end portions onthe second web W2 side of the guides 315 are at lower positions than theend portions on the support table 311 side of the guides 315. The guides315 may have a plate shape, may be configured to include a movableportion as in a roller conveyor, and may be configured to include adrive section which conveys the magnetic wires MW.

The magnetic wires MW which are cut by the cutters 313 slide on theguides 315 through the weight of the magnetic wires MW themselves andfall onto the second web W2.

The guides 315 are disposed to extend from the cutting positions CPtoward the center of the second web W2 as illustrated in FIG. 3. Theguide 315 included in the wire arranging mechanism 31 is capable ofpivoting as indicated by symbol R1 with respect to the support table311. The guide 315 included in the wire arranging mechanism 32 iscapable of pivoting as indicated by symbol R2 with respect to thesupport table 311.

The angles of the guides 315 relative to the transport direction F ofthe second web W2 change due to the guides 315 pivoting. Since themagnetic wires MW slide on the guides 315 to reach the second web W2,the angles of the magnetic wires MW relative to the transport directionF are determined by the angles of the guides 315.

The guides 315 may be provided with mechanisms capable of carrying themagnetic wires MW. The mechanisms may be configured by transport beltsor screws, for example.

The sheet S containing the magnetic wires MW is manufactured by thearranging section 30 arranging the magnetic wires MW on the second webW2. The magnetic wires MW having orientations corresponding to theangles of the guides 315 are arranged on the sheet S. The plurality ofmagnetic wires MW is dispersed and arranged on the second web W2 due tothe wire arranging mechanisms 31 and 32 periodically cutting themagnetic wires MW and supplying the magnetic wires MW to the second webW2 in a state in which the second web W2 is being transported.

1-3. Configuration Example of Sheet

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating the sheet S1 as an example of thesheet S manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100.

The sheet S1 is a rectangular sheet cut to A4 size, for example, by thecutting section 90 and may be used as printing paper for the purpose ofprinting using a printer in the same manner as paper such as normalpaper. The sheet S1 includes nine of the magnetic wires MW. Thesemagnetic wires are assigned symbols 401 to 409.

The magnetic wires 401, 402, and 403 are arranged at different anglesfrom each other inside the surface of the sheet S1. Here, X-Y Cartesiancoordinates are set using the short-side direction of the sheet S1 asthe X direction and using the long-side direction of the sheet S1 as theY direction. In this case, the magnetic wire 401 is parallel to theX-axis, the magnetic wire 402 has an inclination of an angle 01 relativeto the X-axis, and the magnetic wire 403 has an inclination of an angleθ2 relative to the X-axis. Similarly, the magnetic wires 404 and 407 areparallel to the X-axis, the magnetic wires 405 and 408 have aninclination of the angle θ1 relative to the X-axis, and the magneticwires 406 and 409 have an inclination of the angle 02 relative to theX-axis.

In this manner, in the sheet S1, the nine magnetic wires 401 to 409 arearranged to face three directions. It is preferable that the angles θ1and θ2 be 60°±5° (60°=60 [arc degrees]=π/3 [rad]) and 120°±5° (120°=120[arc degrees]=2π/3 [rad]). In this case, the magnetic wires 401, 402,and 403 are arranged on the sheet S1 at orientations of different fromeach other by 60°±5°. The same applies to the magnetic wires 404 to 409.Three of the magnetic wires 401 to 409 are arranged in the respectivethree directions in the sheet S1. When the magnetic wire 401 has adirection that is not parallel to the X-axis, θ1 and θ2 are eachcorrected by a corresponding amount.

The sheet S may be used as security paper by including the magneticwires MW.

The security paper is a tag detectable by a detection system providedwith an exciting coil and a detecting coil realized in the form ofpaper. When an alternating current is caused to flow in the excitingcoil to generate an alternating magnetic field and the sheet S is placedin the alternating magnetic field, a pulse form current flows in thedetecting coil positioned in the vicinity of the magnetic wires MWduring the magnetization reversal. It is possible to detect the presenceof the sheet S using the pulse form current.

Therefore, since it is possible to detect the sheet S that passesthrough a gate through which people or vehicles may pass by disposingthe exciting coil and the detecting coil in the gate, it is possible todetect the sheet S being taken out. For example, there is a merit inthat it is possible to prevent leaking of classified information whenclassified information or the like is printed onto the sheet S.

It is preferable that the magnetic material which configures themagnetic wires MW be a magnetic material which causes a great Barkhouseneffect. For example, FeCr-based, FeCo-based, and FeNi, FeSiB, andFeCoSiB-based alloys. Although these materials may be given the greatBarkhousen effect by applying strain using after-processing, since anamorphous wire exhibits the great Barkhousen effect even in theunchanged state in which the wire is created, this is beneficial forusage in the present embodiment. An amorphous ribbon may be cut to forma wire. The same metals may be pulled together with glass from a moltenstate, cooled, and form glass-coated wires.

The shape of the magnetic wires MW suitable for causing the greatBarkhousen effect is not particularly limited as long as the shape islong such as a wire shape or a rod shape. In order to cause the greatBarkhousen effect, it is preferable that the shape be of a predeterminedlength with respect to the cross-sectional area, and basically, it ispreferable that the shape be a wire shape or a band shape, and it ismore preferable that the shape be a wire shape.

When the magnetic material is a wire shape, as described above, it ispreferable that the diameter be greater than or equal to 10 μm in orderto cause the great Barkhousen effect. Although the maximum diameter isnot particularly limited, it is sufficient for the magnetic wires MW tonot excessively and greatly protrude from the surface of the sheet S.For example, the thickness of the magnetic wires MW may be less than orequal to a diameter of 100 μm.

The length of the magnetic wires MW is preferably greater than or equalto 10 mm and more preferably longer than 50 mm in order to cause thegreat Barkhousen effect. Although an upper limit of the length of themagnetic wires MW is not particularly limited, the length preferablydoes not exceed the size of the cut sheet S. Although the diameter andthe length of the magnetic wires MW preferably satisfy theabove-described ranges of the diameter and length for all of themagnetic wires MW contained in the sheet S, when there is a distributionof values, it is preferable that the diameter and the length of themagnetic wires MW satisfy the above-described ranges as average values.

The number and direction of the magnetic wires MW arranged on the sheetS influence the detectability as security paper.

Here, a device including a pair of detectors disposed on both sides of apath to interpose the path is anticipated as the detection device whichdetects the sheet S. Each of the detectors includes an exciting coilwhich generates the alternating magnetic field and a detecting coil. Analternating magnetic field which intersects the path is generated in thepath by the pair of detectors. When the sheet S passes between thedetectors, a voltage pulse is generated in the magnetic wires MWarranged on the sheet S during the magnetization reversal and the pulseis detected by the detecting coil.

In this configuration, when the angle between the magnetic wires MWarranged on the sheet S and the magnetic field is small, the sheet S iseasy to detect using the detecting coil. Therefore, when the sheet Sincludes the plurality of magnetic wires MW facing in differentdirections, a state in which the sheet S is easily detected by thedetection device occurs frequently.

Therefore, it is preferable that a plurality of the magnetic wires MWfacing different directions be arranged on the sheet S and it is morepreferable that the magnetic wires MW facing three or more directions bearranged on the sheet S. The sheet S1 includes the magnetic wires 401,402, and 403 arranged to be 60°±5 different from each other. In thisconfiguration, in a state in which the sheet S is positioned between thedetectors, a state in which the sheet S1 is easily detected occurs morefrequently. Therefore, it can be said that the sheet S is easilydetected by the detecting coil and that the detectability as so-calledsecurity paper is high.

The wire arranging mechanisms 31 and 32 are capable of arranging themagnetic wires MW at different directions relative to the transportdirection F of the second web W2 by rotating the guides 315. Therefore,by stopping the guides 315 at three or more different directions andfeeding out the magnetic wires MW onto the second web W2, it is possibleto arrange the magnetic wires MW which face three or more differentdirections on the second web W2.

It is possible to define the number of magnetic wires MW arranged on thesheet S using the weight in the sheet S cut by the cutting section 90,for example. For example, when the weight of the sheet S is set to 100parts by weight, it is preferable that the weight of the magnetic wiresMW be less than 1.00 parts by weight. For example, when nine of themagnetic wires MW, each having a diameter of 100 μm and a length of 52mm, are arranged on the single sheet S cut to A4 size with a density of60 g/m² to 80 g/m², the weight of the magnetic wires MW is less than 1%of the weight of the sheet S and the condition is satisfied.

In other words, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 cuts the heatedsheet SS2 using the cutting section 90 at a position at which the weightof the magnetic wires MW is less than 1.00 parts by weight when theweight of the sheet S is 100 parts by weight and manufactures the sheetS.

When the sheet S configured in this manner is used as printing paper orthe like, the difference in weight in comparison with ordinary printingpaper such as PPC paper is small. Therefore, it is possible to use thesheet S in the same manner as ordinary printing paper. Therefore, it ispossible to realize the sheet S that has security characteristics assecurity paper and may be used easily.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are diagrams illustrating different configurationexamples of the sheet S.

A sheet S2 of FIG. 5, a sheet S3 of FIG. 6, and a sheet S4 of FIG. 7 arerectangular sheets cut to A4 size, for example, in the same manner asthe sheet S1. The sheets S2 to S4 may be used as printing paper for thepurpose of printing using a printer in the same manner as paper such asnormal paper.

The sheet S2 includes nine of the magnetic wires MW in the same manneras the sheet S1. The magnetic wires are assigned symbols 411 to 419.

The magnetic wires 411, 412, and 413 are arranged parallel to the shortsides of the sheet S2. The magnetic wires 414, 415, and 416 are arrangedto have an inclination of 60°±5°, for example, relative to the magneticwire 411. The magnetic wires 417, 418, and 419 are arranged to have aninclination of 60°±5°, for example, relative to the magnetic wire 414.Therefore, the nine magnetic wires MW are arranged on the sheet S2 toface three different directions and there are three of the magneticwires MW for each direction.

In the sheet S1 described above, the magnetic wires 401 to 409 formgroups having three wires each and are arranged regularly in the sheetS1. In contrast, in the sheet S2, the magnetic wires 411 to 419 arearranged irregularly in the surface of the sheet S2. Since both thesheet S1 and the sheet S2 include the magnetic wires MW arranged onthree or more different directions and there are three or more of themagnetic wires MW for each direction, the detectability is high and theapplicability is great as so-called security paper.

A plurality of magnetic bodies 421 configured by the plurality ofmagnetic wires MW is arranged on the sheet S3 of FIG. 6. Each of themagnetic bodies 421 is configured by arranging three of the magneticwires MW facing different directions to overlap each other. Six of themagnetic bodies 421 are arranged on the sheet S3 and there are 18 of themagnetic wires MW.

A plurality of magnetic bodies 422 configured by the plurality ofmagnetic wires MW is arranged on the sheet S4 of FIG. 7. Each of themagnetic bodies 422 is configured by arranging three of the magneticwires MW facing different directions to be adjacent to each other. Sixof the magnetic bodies 422 are arranged on the sheet S4 and there are 18of the magnetic wires MW.

In the examples illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, in either case, when theweight of the sheet S (the sheet S3 or S4) is set to 100 parts byweight, the weight of the magnetic wires MW is less than 1.00 parts byweight. For example, eighteen of the magnetic wires MW, each having adiameter of 50 μm and a length of 60 mm, are arranged on the singlesheet S cut to A4 size with a density of 60 g/m² to 80 g/m². In thiscase, the weight ratio of the sheet S and the magnetic wires MWsatisfies the condition.

In the sheets S3 and S4, since the plurality of magnetic wires MW isarranged such that the magnetic wires MW face different directions andthere are six of the magnetic wires MW for each direction, thedetectability as security paper is high. Since the magnetic bodies 421and 422 are arranged regularly, the number of the magnetic wires MW perunit length of the sheets S3 and S4 is maintained at a fixed level.Therefore, there is a merit in that it is possible to manage the numberof magnetic wires MW of the sheets S3 and S4 based on the size at whichthe sheets S3 and S4 are cut by the cutting section 90.

1-4. Manufacturing Steps of Sheet

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the manufacturing steps of the sheet S ofthe first embodiment.

Step SA1 is a crushing step of crushing the feedstock MA. The sheetmanufacturing apparatus 100 executes the crushing step using thecrushing section 12.

Step SA2 is a defibrating step of defibrating crushed pieces of thefeedstock MA crushed in step SA1 in an atmosphere to generate adefibrated object MB. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 executes thedefibrating step using the defibrating section 20.

Step SA3 is a separating step. In the separating step, particles ofresin, additive, and the like are separated from the defibrated objectMB containing the fibers, resin particles, and the like and a materialMC having fibers as the main component is extracted. The sheetmanufacturing apparatus 100 executes the separating step using thesorting section 40 and the first web forming section 45. The rotatingbody 49 may be included in the functional sections which execute theseparating step.

Step SA4 is an adding step of adding the additive material AD to thematerial MC. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 executes the addingstep using the additive supply section 52.

Step SA5 is a mixing step of mixing the additive material AD added inthe adding step and the material MC together. The sheet manufacturingapparatus 100 executes the mixing step using the mixing blower 56 of themixing section 50.

Step SA6 is a sieving step of sieving the mixture MX to disperse themixture MX in the atmosphere and causing the result to descend. Thesheet manufacturing apparatus 100 executes the dispersing step using thedispersing section 60.

Step SA7 is a web forming step of accumulating the mixture MX whichdescends in the sieving step of step SA6 to form a web. The sheetmanufacturing apparatus 100 executes the web forming step using thesecond web forming section 70 and the web formed by step SA7 is thesecond web W2.

Step SA8 is an arranging step of arranging the magnetic wires MW on theweb formed in step SA7. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 executesthe arranging step using the arranging section 30.

Step SA9 is a processing step of carrying out pressurizing and heatingon the second web W2. In the pressurizing and heating steps,pressurizing and heating are performed on the second web W2 and theheated sheet SS2 is formed. Although the order of the pressurizing andthe heating in the pressurizing and heating steps is not limited, in thepresent embodiment, the pressurizing is performed first. In other words,in step SA9, the second web W2 is pressurized to form the pressurizedsheet SS1 and the pressurized sheet SS1 is heated to form the heatedsheet SS2. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 executes the processingstep using the processing section 80.

Step SA10 is a cutting step of cutting the heated sheet SS2 according toa set size and shape and forming the sheet S. The sheet manufacturingapparatus 100 executes the cutting step using the cutting section 90.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 arranges the magnetic wires MW onthe second web W2 and subsequently processes the second web W2 using theprocessing section 80. Therefore, when the second web W2 is pressurizedby the pressurizing section 82, the magnetic wires MW closely adhere tothe fibers of the material MC and the particles of the additive materialAD contained in the second web W2. Since soft fibers and the additivematerial AD are exposed on the surface of the second web W2 before thesecond web W2 is pressurized by the pressurizing section 82, themagnetic wires MW easily and closely adhere to the fibers. When thesecond web W2 or the pressurized sheet SS1 on which the magnetic wiresMW are arranged is heated by the heating section 84, the additivematerial AD melts and bonds the fibers in the material MC to each otherand bonds the fibers and the magnetic wires MW to each other. Therefore,in the heated sheet SS2 and the sheet S, the magnetic wires MW stronglyadhere to the fibers originating in the feedstock MA. Therefore, it ispossible to use the sheet S as paper such as PPC paper without themagnetic wire MW falling out from the sheet S.

As described above, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is providedwith the web forming section 102, the arranging section 30, and theprocessing section 80. The web forming section 102 accumulates thefeedstock containing fibers in a gas to form the second web W2. Thearranging section 30 arranges magnetic bodies on the second web W2 whilethe second web W2 is transported. The processing section 80 processesthe second web W2 on which the magnetic bodies are arranged into asheet.

The sheet manufacturing method realized by the sheet manufacturingapparatus 100 includes the web forming step, the arranging step, and theprocessing step. The web forming step accumulates the feedstockcontaining fibers and the additive material AD which bonds the fibers ina gas to form the second web W2. The arranging step transports thesecond web W2 and arranges magnetic bodies on the second web W2 that istransported. The processing step processes the second web W2 on whichthe magnetic bodies are arranged into the sheet S.

In the present embodiment, the magnetic wires MW which are magnetic wirerods of a predetermined length containing magnetic bodies are arrangedon the second web W2 as the magnetic bodies.

In the present embodiment, the feedstock containing the fibers and theadditive material AD which bonds the fibers is accumulated in a gas toform the second web W2.

According to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 and the sheetmanufacturing method realized by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100,it is possible to manufacture the sheet S which is usable as securitypaper by arranging the magnetic bodies on the second web W2 containingthe fibers and the additive material AD. The manufacturing steps of thesheet S are dry-system steps in which a large amount is unnecessary,which is beneficial as compared to a wet system since the processes ofwater supplying and draining are unnecessary. Since it is possible toascertain the positions of the magnetic bodies in the sheet S at highprecision, it is possible to manage the detectability as security paper.

In the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, the arranging section 30arranges the magnetic wires MW at fixed positions with respect to thetransport path FW of the second web W2. Therefore, since the magneticwires MW are arranged at fixed positions in the sheet S manufactured bythe sheet manufacturing apparatus 100, it is possible to suppressvariations in the detectability of the sheet S as security paper.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 uses the magnetic wires MW havinga longitudinal shape as the magnetic bodies. The arranging section 30arranges the plurality of magnetic wires MW such that the directions ofthe magnetic wires MW are three or more different directions. Therefore,it is possible to detect the sheet S at a high degree of certainty usinga detection device which detects the magnetic wires MW using magnetism.Therefore, it is possible to manufacture the sheet S which has highdetectability as security paper.

The arranging section 30 arranges the plurality of magnetic wires MWcontaining three of the magnetic wires MW arranged such that the anglesthereof are 60°±5° different from each other. With regard to the sheetS, the range over which the magnetic wires MW are detectable by thedetection device is wide with respect to the relative position betweenthe sheet S and the detection device. Therefore, since there are littlerestrictions for detecting the sheet S using the detection device, it ispossible to manufacture security paper having high detectability.

The arranging section 30 includes the guides 315 capable of pivoting indirections which change the angles of the guides 315 relative to thetransport direction F of the second web W2 and arrange the magneticwires MW along the guides 315. Accordingly, it is possible to cause themagnetic wires MW to face different directions in the second web W2using the arranging section 30 of a simple configuration.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 is provided with the cuttingsection 90 which cuts the heated sheet SS2 processed by the processingsection 80 to a predetermined length. The cutting section 90 cuts theheated sheet SS2 at a position at which the contained proportion of themagnetic wires MW is less than 1.0 parts by weight with respect to 100parts by weight of the sheet S after the cutting. Accordingly, it ispossible to manufacture security paper having a similar weight to thatof the ordinary printing paper on which the magnetic wires MW are notarranged.

The additive material AD contains a resin which melts through beingheated and bonds the fibers. The processing section 80 heats the secondweb W2 on which the magnetic wires MW are arranged to process the secondweb W2 into the heated sheet SS2. Therefore, when the second web W2 isheated by the processing section 80, the magnetic wires MW and thefibers are bonded by the additive material AD. Therefore, it is possibleto manufacture the security paper from which the magnetic wires MW donot easily fall out and which is easy to handle.

The sheet S manufactured in the present embodiment is configured by afeedstock containing fibers and the additive material AD which bonds thefibers. The sheet S includes the magnetic wires MW containing themagnetic bodies arranged on the sheet configured by the fibers and theadditive material AD. The magnetic wires MW of less than 1.0 parts byweight are contained with respect to 100 parts by weight of the sheet Sand the plurality of magnetic wires MW is arranged such that themagnetic wires MW face three or more different directions from eachother.

When the sheet S is detected by the detection device which detects themagnetic wires MW using magnetism, there are little restrictionsrelating to the position and posture of the sheet S and the sheet S isdetected with a high degree of certainty. Therefore, the sheet S hashigh detectability as security paper.

In the sheet S, the plurality of magnetic wire rods arranged on thesheet S is arranged such that the directions of the magnetic wire rodsare 60°±5° different from each other. Therefore, the range over whichthe magnetic wires MW are detectable by the detection device is widewith respect to the relative position between the sheet S and thedetection device. Therefore, since there are little restrictions fordetecting the sheet S using the detection device, it is possible tomanufacture security paper having high detectability.

2. Second Embodiment

FIG. 9 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of an arrangingsection 30A of the second embodiment. The arranging section 30A is afunctional section corresponding to an example of the arranging sectionof the present disclosure and is installed in the sheet manufacturingapparatus 100 instead of the arranging section 30 described in the firstembodiment.

The arranging section 30A is configured by installing a plurality of thewire arranging mechanisms 31 on a base 34 disposed to straddle thetransport path FW. The base 34 is installed in a direction intersectingthe transport direction F and is installed at a height at which the base34 does not come into contact with the second web W2.

The wire arranging mechanism 31 includes configurations that are sharedwith those provided in the arranging section 30. The wire arrangingmechanisms 31 support the rolls MR and cut the magnetic wires MW pulledout from the rolls MR using the cutters 313 on the support tables 311.The wire arranging mechanisms 31 arrange the cut magnetic wires MW onthe second web W2 using the guides 315.

In the example of FIG. 9, the arranging section 30A is provided withthree of the wire arranging mechanisms 31. Of these, two of the wirearranging mechanisms 31 are disposed such that the guides 315 protrudeupstream of the base 34 in the transport direction F. The other one ofthe wire arranging mechanisms 31 is disposed such that the guide 315protrudes downstream of the base 34 in the transport direction F. Thethree wire arranging mechanisms 31 are fixed at positions deviated inthe width direction of the second web W2.

In each of the wire arranging mechanisms 31, the guide 315 is capable ofpivoting in the directions indicated by R3 in the diagram. Thedirections R3 are directions in which the guides 315 are swung indirections intersecting the width direction, that is, the transportdirection F of the second web W2. Therefore, each of the wire arrangingmechanisms 31 is capable of arranging the magnetic wires MW at differentpositions in the width direction of the second web W2. The guides 315are capable of arranging the magnetic wires MW to face differentdirections relative to the transport direction F. For example, theguides 315 are capable of arranging the magnetic wires MW in a directionparallel to the transport direction F, a direction inclined by 60°(60°±5°) to one side in the width direction of the second web W2relative to the transport direction F, and a direction inclined by 60°(60°±5°) to the other side. In this case, since the magnetic wires MWarranged on the second web W2 have differences in angle of 60° (60°±5°)from each other, it is possible to realize the arrangements of thesheets S1, S2, S3, and S4 illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 7 using thearranging section 30A.

The arranging section 30A is capable of placing the magnetic wires MW onthe second web W2 in the same manner as the arranging section 30 andarranges a plurality of the magnetic wires MW to face differentdirections. Therefore, it is possible to obtain similar effects to thoseof the configuration described in the first embodiment.

The number and the disposition state of the wire arranging mechanisms 31provided in the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 are not limited to theexamples illustrated as the arranging sections 30 and 30A. For example,a plurality of the wire arranging mechanisms 31 may be disposed alongthe transport direction F on one side of the transport path FW. Four ormore of the wire arranging mechanisms 31 may be disposed and one of thewire arranging mechanisms 31 may be disposed. The wire arrangingmechanism 31 may be provided with a movement mechanism which moves thewire arranging mechanism 31 in directions intersecting the transportdirection F.

3. Third Embodiment

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the configuration of a sheetmanufacturing apparatus 100A of the third embodiment.

The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100A described in the third embodimentis configured similarly to the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100described in the first embodiment except for in that a coating processsection 38 is provided. In the third embodiment, constituent parts whichare shared with the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100 will be given thesame symbols and the description thereof will be omitted.

The coating process section 38 is disposed between the pressurizingsection 82 and the heating section 84 in the sheet manufacturingapparatus 100A. A constituent part including the pressurizing section82, the coating process section 38, and the heating section 84 is aprocessing section 80A. The coating process section 38 corresponds to anexample of a coating process section.

The coating process section 38 adheres a coating material CO to thesurface of the pressurized sheet SS1 pressurized by the pressurizingsection 82. The coating process section 38 includes an ejection headwhich ejects the coating material CO toward the pressurized sheet SS1according to the control of the control device 110. The ejection head isconfigured similarly to a print head of an ink jet printer using apiezoelectric element, for example.

After the coating process section 38 adheres the coating material CO tothe pressurized sheet SS1, the pressurized sheet SS1 is heated by theheating section 84. Due to being heated by the heating section 84, theadditive material AD contained in the pressurized sheet SS1 bonds thefibers to each other and the fibers to the magnetic wires MW. Thecoating material CO adhered to the pressurized sheet SS1 is also driedor fixed by the heating.

The coating material CO adhered to the pressurized sheet SS1 by thecoating process section 38 is a liquid containing a synthetic resin andpreferably contains an insulating synthetic resin. The coating materialCO may be a solution in which a synthetic resin is dissolved in anaqueous solvent or an organic solvent and may be a mixed liquid in whichminute particles of synthetic resin are dispersed. It is preferable thatthe coating material CO be the same color as the heated sheet SS2 whenthe coating process section 38 ejects the coating material CO or afterbeing heated by the heating section 84.

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the sheet S5 as an example of asheet manufactured by the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100A of thethird embodiment.

The magnetic wires 401 to 409 are arranged on the sheet S5 similarly toin the sheet S1 illustrated in FIG. 4. A coating layer 441 is arrangedto overlap each of the magnetic wires 401 to 409. The coating layers 441are layers of the synthetic resin which coat the surfaces of themagnetic wires 401 to 409. The coating layers 441 are formed through thedrying of the coating material CO adhered by the coating process section38.

The coating process section 38 adheres the coating material CO to matchthe positions of the magnetic wires 401 to 409. The range over which thecoating process section 38 adheres the coating material CO may be theentire surface of the sheet S5, that is, the entirety of the pressurizedsheet SS1, and as illustrated in FIG. 11, may be limited to rangedoverlapping the magnetic wires 401 to 409. It is preferable to adherethe coating material CO to at least ranges covering the magnetic wires401 to 409 which are exposed on the surface of the pressurized sheetSS1.

The sheet S5 including the coating layers 441 has an effect of reducingthe influence of the magnetic wires MW on the surface characteristics ofthe sheet S5 since the magnetic wires MW are not exposed. Accordingly,an improvement may be anticipated in the print quality when using thesheet S5 as printing paper. For example, when printing on the sheet S5using a laser printer, it is possible to cause the dischargingcharacteristics on the surfaces of the magnetic wires MW to approachthose of the portions in which the magnetic wires MW are not present.Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence on the fixingproperties of the printing originating in differences in the dischargingcharacteristics between the magnetic wires MW and the fibers configuringthe sheet S5. It is possible to configure the coating layers 441 to havehydrophilicity. In this case, when carrying out the printing on thesheet S5 using an ink jet printer, the ink is also well fixed to thesurfaces of the magnetic wires MW. Therefore, it is possible to obtainan improvement in the print quality on the sheet S5 in various printingsystems. An improvement may be anticipated in the feel when touching thesheet S5 by coating the magnetic wires MW with the coating layers 441.When the coating layers 441 are non-transparent layers orlow-transparency layers, there is an effect of rendering the magneticwires MW visually less apparent.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the manufacturing steps of the sheet Sof the third embodiment.

Steps SA1 to SA8 are shared with the manufacturing steps described inthe first embodiment.

Step SA11 executed continuing from step SA8 is a pressurizing step ofpressurizing the web on which the magnetic wires MW are arranged. In thepressurizing step, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100A uses thepressurizing section 82 to pressurize the second web W2 on which themagnetic wires MW are arranged to form the pressurized sheet SS1.

Step SA12 is a coating step of adhering the coating material CO to thepressurized sheet SS1. The sheet manufacturing apparatus 100A executesthe coating step using the coating process section 38 and adheres thecoating material CO to the portions coating the magnetic wires MW on thepressurized sheet SS1.

Step SA13 is a heating step of heating the web to which the coatingmaterial CO is adhered in the coating step. In the heating step, thesheet manufacturing apparatus 100A uses the heating section 84 to heatthe pressurized sheet SS1 to which the coating material CO is adheredand forms the heated sheet SS2.

After step SA13, the heated sheet SS2 is cut according to a set size andshape in the cutting step of step SA10.

In this manner, the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100A includes thecoating process section 38 which adheres the coating material CO servingas the coating material to the magnetic wires MW which are the magneticbodies. Therefore, since the sheet manufacturing apparatus 100A coatsthe magnetic wires MW arranged on the sheet S with the coating materialCO, it is possible to avoid exposure of the surfaces of the magneticwires MW. Therefore, it is possible to obtain improvements in the feelwhen touching the sheet S and the color of the sheet S in addition to animprovement in the print quality when using the sheet S as printingpaper.

In the third embodiment, although the coating process section 38 isconfigured to adhere the coating material CO to the pressurized sheetSS1 on which the magnetic wires MW are arranged, the configuration isnot limited thereto. For example, the coating process section 38 may bedisposed upstream of the pressurizing section 82 in the transportdirection F and adhere the coating material CO to the second web W2before the pressurizing. The coating process section 38 may be disposeddownstream of the heating section 84 and be configured to adhere thecoating material CO to the heated sheet SS2.

4. Other Embodiments

The embodiments described above are merely specific modes which embodythe present disclosure, do not limit the present disclosure, and asindicated hereinafter, for example, may be embodied in various modeswithin a scope not departing from the gist of the present disclosure.

For example, in the embodiments, although the magnetic wire MW cut fromthe roll MR is exemplified as the magnetic body arranged on the secondweb W2 by the arranging section 30, the present disclosure is notlimited thereto. For example, a configuration may be adopted in whichthe magnetic wires MW cut to a predetermined size in advance are stockedin the wire arranging mechanisms 31 and 32 and the magnetic wires MW arefed out toward the second web W2 one or multiple wires at a time. Whenthe magnetic wires MW which are the magnetic wire rods are arranged onthe sheet S, the thickness of the sheet S does not increase excessively,and when using the sheet S as printing paper or the like, the differencein thickness and unevenness is small and the convenience is great ascompared to ordinary paper such as PPC paper. An element in which a coilis wound on a magnetic wire rod may be arranged on the second web W2instead of the magnetic wire MW which is a magnetic wire rod. Forexample, a bistable magnetic element known as a Wiegand wire may bearranged on the second web W2.

In the embodiments, although the sheet manufacturing apparatuses 100 and100A are described as apparatuses which defibrate the feedstock MA usingthe defibrating section 20 and manufacture the sheet S, a configurationnot provided with the defibrating process section 101 may be adopted.For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the material MCcontaining the fibers defibrated in advance is supplied to the mixingsection 50. A configuration may be adopted in which the mixture MX inwhich the material MC containing the fibers defibrated in advance andthe additive material AD are mixed together is supplied to thedispersing section 60.

Naturally, it is possible to arbitrarily modify the other detailedconfigurations.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sheet manufacturing apparatus comprising: a webforming section that accumulates a feedstock containing fibers in a gasto form a web; an arranging section that arranges at least one magneticbody on the web while the web is transported; and a processing sectionthat processes the web on which the at least one magnetic body isarranged into a sheet.
 2. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the arranging section arranges the at least onemagnetic body at a fixed position with respect to a transport path ofthe web.
 3. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 2,wherein the at least one magnetic body has a longitudinal shape, the atleast one magnetic body includes a plurality of magnetic bodies, and thearranging section arranges the plurality of magnetic bodies such thatdirections of the magnetic bodies are three or more differentdirections.
 4. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 3,wherein the arranging section arranges the plurality of magnetic bodiesincluding three magnetic bodies arranged such that directions of thethree magnetic bodies are different from each other by 60°±5°.
 5. Thesheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thearranging section arranges, as the at least one magnetic body, amagnetic wire rod of a predetermined length containing a magnetic body.6. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein thearranging section includes a guide configured to pivot in a direction inwhich an angle of the guide changes relative to a transport direction ofthe web, and the arranging section arranges the magnetic wire rod alongthe guide.
 7. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising a cutting section that cuts the sheet processed bythe processing section to have a predetermined length, wherein thecutting section cuts the sheet at a position at which a containedproportion of the at least one magnetic body is less than 1.0 parts byweight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the sheet after thecutting.
 8. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the feedstock containing fibers contains a resin which is meltedby heating to bond the fibers, and the processing section heats the webon which the at least one magnetic body is arranged to process the webinto the sheet.
 9. The sheet manufacturing apparatus according to claim1, further comprising a coating process section that adheres a coatingmaterial to the at least one magnetic body arranged on the web or thesheet.
 10. A recording sheet comprising: a sheet formed of a feedstockcontaining fibers; and magnetic wire rods containing magnetic bodiesarranged on the sheet, wherein less than 1.0 parts by weight of themagnetic wire rods are contained with respect to 100 parts by weight ofthe sheet, and the plurality of magnetic wire rods is arranged such thatthe magnetic wire rods face three or more directions different from eachother.
 11. The recording sheet according to claim 10, wherein theplurality of magnetic wire rods is arranged such that directions of themagnetic wire rods are different from each other by 60°±5°.
 12. A sheetmanufacturing method comprising: a web forming step of accumulating afeedstock containing fibers in a gas to form a web; an arranging step oftransporting the web and arranging a magnetic body on the web that istransported; and a processing step of processing the web on which themagnetic body is arranged into a sheet.
 13. The sheet manufacturingmethod according to claim 12, further comprising a cutting step ofcutting the sheet processed in the processing step to have apredetermined length, wherein the cutting step cuts the sheet at aposition at which a contained proportion of the magnetic body is lessthan 1.0 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of thesheet after the cutting.